Dr. James M. Wilson

As a high school math teacher and coach at Marseilles High School, Marseilles, Illinois, James M. Wilson began doing youth work at the church and felt called to become a pastor.

"I experienced God's call into the ministry...saw the needs of the youth...people offered encouragement...so in 1969 I trudged off to Garrett (Garrett Theological Seminary in Evanston, Il.)," he said. Dr. Wilson is currently Senior Pastor of Barrington United Methodist Church, and just celebrated his 30th year in the ministry. "I've enjoyed all of the churches I've served really very much. Each one had their uniqueness."

In 1997 Bishop C. Joseph Sprague asked Wilson to come to Barrington, which was very familiar to him because his father had been in business there and his mother had taught in the school system. "It was not an unknown entity, but it had changed as far as growth."

Then on October 28th, 1998, the whole nature of Wilson's ministry at Barrington United Methodist changed dramatically when the church's historic building was destroyed by fire. "The fire has been the landmark of my tenure here. And I've learned a lot. I remember telling the church board that this was not how I had planned to spend my time in Barrington, but if I had to go through this, I couldn't think of a better group of people to go through it with."

"One of my fundamental beliefs is that our God is a redemptive God. We see that in Jesus Christ, but now we've experienced it...God's grace reaching into this tragedy and bringing something new. It has been a confirmation of my theological beliefs."

Rev. Cynthia Anderson

Reverend Anderson has been active in United Methodist congregations since her teens, teaching children and adult classes, and leading youth groups. Drawn to the ministry after working as a public relations and communications executive, she served as assistant pastor at Bethany United Methodist Church before coming to Barrington United Methodist Church in 2003.

Reverend Anderson received her master of divinity degree at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary (G-ETS) and is an ordained elder in the Northern Illinois Conference. She is currently working on her Ph.D. in theology at G-ETS. Reverend Anderson's specific area of focus at BUMC is Adult Spiritual Formation. "That means really working as a resource and an encourager, as people seek to grow in and develop their relationship with Jesus Christ. Much of my work is helping with the sense of seeing one's life as a whole; that God is interested in all parts of our lives; so we can see our entire lives from the perspective of discipleship and intentionally grow in our faith."

Organizational Structure

The structure shown reflects the new organizational model.

Church Conferences are called for:

• Budget approval
• Goals for the year
• Nominations
• Regular meeting with the District Superintendent

The Church Leadership Council

Church Council Chair

Gwen Bennett

Church Council Secretary

Robin Fox

Trustee Committee Chair

Del Haagen
Ron Schneider

Finance Chair

Jim Finn

Treasurer

Bob Mowry

Financial Administrator

Lynne Richardson

Staff-Parish Chair

Bill West

Lay Leader

John Maxson

Lay Members to Annual Conference

Steve Mountsier
Sydney Whitley

Member Care Chair

Pam Larsen

Christian Education Chair

Sandy Starnes

Outreach Chair

Silvia Grabacki

Worship and the Arts Co-Chairs

Karen Leoni
Keith Leoni

United Methodist Women Chair

Norma Jung-Stein

Stewardship Ministry Group Chair

Chris Streed

Members At-Large

Sandra Pearson
John Rupert
Carol Beese
Tim Close
Chris DuBois
Chuck Perry

Pastors

Jim Wilson
Cynthia Anderson